Flue-cleaner



(No Model.) G. B. ESSEX.

FLUE CLEANER. Y

No. 538,955. n Patented vMay '7, 1895.

` UNITED STATES dPATENT' africa..

'GEORGE B. ESSEX, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FLUE-CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 538,955, dated May '7,1895.

l Application filed November 12, 1894i Serial No. 528,506. (No model.)

t To @ZZ whom it may concern:

have invented a certain new and useful Im-V provement in Fluo-Cleaners;and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de'-scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a pipe cleaner or fluecleaner that can be used for the purpose of cleaning out pipes or linesof different diameter, and that will readily accommodate itself toanyvariation within the pipes so as to bringpthe cutting or cleaning edgeup tightly against the surface that is to be cleaned; and it is also theobject of the invention to produce a cleaner in which the size can beVaried before the cleaner is inserted in the tube by simply turning thehandle or rod to which it is attached.

. It consists of a number of iiat springs, to the ends of which areattached the cleaning knives and the guards, and these iiat springs arearranged in two sets, the one set being provided with cleaning knives atthat end which is farthest from the operator, and the other set beingprovided with similar cleaning knives at the end which is nearest to theoperator. The springs of each set are fixed at one end to a plate, andnear the other end, being the end to which the knives are attached, passthrough guide holes in a second plate, the second plate being used asthe one to which the springs of the second set are attached, and thefirst plate' being used as the one through which the guide slots for thesecond set of springs are perforated. The point of fixture of thesprings is radially less distant from the center of the plate than isthe slot in the same plate through which passes the similar spring ofthe other set. The two plates are capable of movement toward and awayfrom each other, and are mounted on a rod which is threaded at its end,one of the plates being mounted behind the threads between collars sothat it is free to revolve without advancing along the rod, and theother of the plates being provided with a centrally yond set ofscraper-springs.

threaded perforation and mounted on the threaded part so that itadvances along the rod when the rod is turned. This construction causesa spreading of the cutting ends when the plates are brought together,and a contracting of the cutting ends when the plates are separated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation. Fig. 2 showsthe plate to which is attached one set of the scraper-springs andthrough which pass the other ends of the sec- Fig. 3 shows a scraperwith its front and rear guards, the parts being separated.

A indicates a rod, on one end of which is a socket B for the receptionof the long handle with which the scraper is used. On the opposite endis a portion C which is threaded for a distance, and at the rear of thethreads are two `collars a and b, between which is mounted one of theholding plates D. The central perforation through the holding plate D issimply a round hole. On the threaded part C of the rod A is mounted theother holding plate E, which has a central threaded perforation. Aroundthe periphery of each plate D and E are a number of holes, c c c,

lthrough which are passed the springs F G.,

Alternate with the holes and radially nearer the center, provision ismade for securing the ends of the springs F and G. These may be rivetedto a flange, which takes the form of a ring, or there may be lugsprojecting from the plate D or E and alternating with the holes c. Theholes and lugs maybe Yof any desired number. In the drawings I haveindicated that there would be three scraper blades projecting each way,making six altogether, and this is a convenient number, although fourmay be made to project each way if desired, or even a larger number.When the scraper head is held from turning by the hand or by contactwith the tube in which it is inserted, and the rod A` is rotated, thescraper blades at the ends of the spring bars F andG will change theirposition with respect to the rod, either expanding or contracting,according to the direction in which the rod is turned. This result isproduced by changing the relative position of the plates D and E, as itis evident that by bringing the plates D and E closer together, theouter ends ICO of the scraper springs will be expanded, and byseparating the plates D and E, the outer ends will be contracted.

The scraper itself with its guards is shown in Fig. 3, and consists of aback guard II substantially in the form of a T, with its stem partprovided with avsuitahle screw or rivet hole by which it may be attachedto the end of the spring bar; and across the table part of which `isplaced a steel disk or scraper 7L. The onter approach or guard, alsomade in the form of a T, is provided only with holes through thechangeable part of it, by means of which it is screwed to thecorresponding outer guard Il, the rivets or bolts which screw the twotogether passing also through the steel scraper L and holding the threeparts all together.

What I claim isl. In a flue scraper, the combination of a pair ofholding plates, a central rod traversing the two plates centrallyadapted to rotate, through one without end motion therethrough, andthrough the other with end motion therethrough, whereby the distance otthe two plates may be varied, a set of scraper carrying springs securedto one of said plates,

and traversing guide holes in the other of said plates, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a flue cleaner, the combination of a central holding rod, a pairof holding plates, one of which is capable of rotation on the centrairod without motion along its axis, and the GEORGE B. ESSEX.

W itnesscs:

D. W. BRADFORD, FRANCES CLoUGI-I.

